For kids branching out to art
Last year, Kana Nakanishi caught our attention with Koke-a, an unusual piece of furniture with a mosslike surface of tufted wool on which to relax — her graduate project for Finland's Alto University of Art and Design. Now she's a member of Oiseau, which has launched Mother, a new brand that focuses on long-lasting products. Nakanishi's contribution is the Atelier Book Chair, a fun art box for kids. The beautiful wooden set is a carrying case — to store art supplies — that conveniently opens up into a stool with hanging pockets to hold art brushes, paints and other young artist's needs. The Atelier Book Chair costs ¥50,000 and can be ordered directly from the Oiseau website.
It's been a while since On Design has covered a mobile phone — lay blame on the lack of decent competition from Japan in the face of the iPhone-led smart-phone onslaught. But the new Touch Wood handset from DoCoMo did catch our eye. Partnering up with the More Trees reforestation project, Touch Wood are decorated with wooden panels of hinoki timber. Using thinned wood — parts of the tree usually discarded after logging — each phone's unique wood grain gives it a warm look and feel. The manufacturing method also ensures that it is durable and water resistant, while it's bean shape is easy to grip and comfortable to hold. It has all the features you'd expect from a modern handset, including a touch screen. Touch Wood is set for release in March, its price depending on the retailer, and it will be available at all DoCoMo counters and shops.